Editorial

By Pastor Robert Lee

Many of us know Luther’s Small Catechism as our main textbook during confirmation instruction, and portions of it were customarily assigned as memory work. It was one of our seminary professors, the late Dr. Iver Olson, who spoke of the role of the catechism in his own personal spiritual awakening, noting the importance of the order of topics in the book.

The catechism begins with the law of God, summarized in the Ten Commandments. This is the right place to begin. Our old natureencourages young confirmands to look them over quickly and tell themselves that they haven’t done so badly—they don’t worship other gods, have never killed anyone, haven’t stolen anything, are obedient to their parents (mostly), go to church on Sundays (usually), try to tell the truth, etc. The coveting part doesn’t seem to apply to them (houses, servants, wives, cattle), and most are not sure what adultery means (one of my confirmation students thought it meant acting like an adult).

Dr. Olson told how his pastor carefully explained each commandment and the ways in which they apply to our lives. Look at the positive meaning of the commandments. Concerning the first, I may not have worshiped idols, but have I feared, loved, and trusted in God above all things? Concerning the second, I have not taken God’s name in vain, but have I called upon Him in every time of need and worshiped Him with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving? Consider, too, what Jesus taught about murder and adultery (Matthew 5:21-22, 27- 28), that angry words and lustful thoughts also make us guilty of breaking the fifth and sixth commandments. If any shreds of selfrighteousness remain, consider James 2:10, that if you stumble at only one point, you are guilty of all.

Ah, then we need to hear the gospel, and it is no accident that the gospel-centered Creed is part two of our catechisms. It begins with creation and how abundantly God has provided for us … “purely out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me.” The second part is redemption, and it’s all about Jesus … who He is, what He has done to redeem me, “with His holy and precious blood, and with His innocent sufferings and death; in order that I might be His own, live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.” Part three (of sanctification) teaches us about the Holy Spirit’s work in bringing us to faith and preserving us in union with Jesus Christ in the fellowship of other believers.[A couple of us who taught the Principles of Congregational Life class in the Bible school/ college offered extra credit to any students who would come to us after class and recite the meaning to the Third Article. Sadly, we were not overwhelmed with takers.] These words are especially rich!

The Creed is followed by the Lord’s Prayer, which His disciples today still find as our faithful guide. The place of the sacraments in our lives is developed in parts four and five, and previous issues have focused on the commandments (January 2021) and the creed (November 2020).

Perhaps it’s past time for us to dust off our catechisms and look to the Spirit of God to renew His work of law and gospel in our hearts and lives. And a special word to pastors: Your privilege in teaching this book to young people is a great one.

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The Tale of Two Acres (True North Publishing, 2021) by Miriam Dynneson Ramse tells the interesting and inspiring story of the Nogales, Ariz., mission and the ministry of her parents, Pastor Lawrence and Gola Dynneson. This was the AFLC’s first missionary partnership, introduced at our second annual conference (1964) as a work with both world and home mission possibilities.

Drawing much from Gola’s diaries, family memories, and even from Lawrence’s poems, the missionary journey of the Dynneson family begins with two Midwestern Bible school students who were convinced that they were called to serve the Lord in a town on the Mexican border more than 70 years ago. A pastor was needed, so Lawrence and family traveled north so he could complete college and seminary training, returning to Nogales, where a congregation was officially established in 1965.

Readers who may be unfamiliar with the Nogales mission will appreciate the opportunity to get acquainted with it, while those who have followed the work over the years will enjoy reading the familiar names and learning more about it. There are lots of names in the book that are familiar to AFLC readers, and I especially enjoyed reading about the involvement of the Dick and Clara Gunderson and the Gerald and Margaret Mundfrom families. And there are lots of pictures, too.

Copies of The Tale of Two Acres may be ordered by contacting Miriam Ramse by email at miramse1211@gmail.com.